JESUS CARES ... DO WE? (CC)
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SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2013 PASTOR DAVE'S SERMON
SERMON TEXT: ROMANS 12:9-21
LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT
RECORDED FOR US BY PAUL IN THE
BOOK OF ROMANS WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 12
BEGINNING WITH VERSE 9:
LOVE MUST BE SINCERE.
HATE WHAT IS EVIL; CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD.
BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN BROTHERLY LOVE.
HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE YOURSELVES.
NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL, BUT KEEP
YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR, SERVING THE LORD.
BE JOYFUL IN HOPE, PATIENT IN
AFFLICTION, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER.
SHARE WITH GOD'S PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.
PRACTICE HOSPITALITY.
BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU; BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE.
REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE.
MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN. LIVE IN HARMONY
WITH ONE ANOTHER. DO NOT BE PROUD,
BUT BE WILLING TO ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE OF LOW
POSITION. DO NOT BE CONCEITED.
DO NOT REPAY ANYONE EVIL FOR EVIL.
BE CAREFUL TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF EVERYBODY.
IF IT IS POSSIBLE, AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS
ON YOU, LIVE AT PEACE WITH EVERYONE.
DO NOT TAKE REVENGE, MY FRIENDS,
BUT LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD'S WRATH,
FOR IT IS WRITTEN: "IT IS MINE TO AVENGE; I WILL
REPAY," SAYS THE LORD. ON THE CONTRARY:
"IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM;
IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK.
IN DOING THIS, YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS
ON HIS HEAD." DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL,
BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.
THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD. LET US PRAY:
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD,
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR
HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT,
OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND COMFORT.
AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE:
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, 1973, 1978, 1984,
USED BY PERMISSION OF ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR,
JESUS CHRIST:
IN THE OPENING NUMBER FROM THE MUSICAL "ZORBA",
THE CAST PUT FORTH THIS STATEMENT:
LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO
WHILE YOU ARE WAITING TO DIE.
IT'S A GREAT STATEMENT
BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE THAT
FROM WHATEVER PERSPECTIVE YOUR LIFE IS
AND PUT YOUR OWN SPIN ON IT.
LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO DIE.
IF YOU'RE A POSITIVE PERSON, YOU THINK OF
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT LIFE OFFERS YOU THAT ARE AT YOUR
FINGERTIPS THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU
TO GO OUT AND ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE
BEFORE YOU PASS FROM THIS EARTH.
LIFE IS WHAT YOU DO WHILE
YOU'RE WAITING TO DIE. FOR THE PESSIMIST
IS THE TICK, TICK, TICK OF THE CLOCK.
HOW LONG
LIFE IS.
WITH NOTHING TO DO WITH A LIST
OF BROKEN DREAMS; A BUCKET LIST
THAT IS NEVER GOING TO BE COMPLETED.
A LIFE THAT HAS JUST BEEN SAD,
BECAUSE ALL THAT PERSON HAS DONE IS
NOT LIVED. LIFE IS
WHAT YOU DO WHILE YOU'RE WAITING
TO DIE.
WHAT A STATEMENT AND A REMINDER FOR US EVEN AS
CHRISTIANS, TO LIVE. AND THAT'S
WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID TO THE CHURCH IN ROME AND HE SAYS
TO US: CHRISTIANS, LIVE!
NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO BE
ACTIVE IN YOUR FAITH. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU
TO LIVE BECAUSE THIS IS THE PERIOD
OF GRACE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU.
THE TIME THAT GOD HAS SET FOR YOU
TO BE IN THIS WORLD.
HE GAVE YOU YOUR BIRTH. HE WILL ALSO GIVE YOU
YOUR DEATH. AND THE TIME BETWEEN THOSE TWO IS
HIS TIME OF GRACE.
THE PERIOD IN WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU TO BE HIS OWN
HAS REMINDED YOU OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU
BECAUSE HE SAVED YOU FROM YOUR SINS.
AND NOW IS THAT TIME FOR YOU
TO GET UP AS THE CHILD OF GOD
AND LIVE YOUR FAITH. IT IS WHAT GOD
HAS GIVEN TO YOU TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE
AND THERE IS NOT TIME FOR US
TO SIT BACK IN OUR SPIRITUAL RECLINER
WAITING FOR SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE
TO START ACTING LIKE THE CHILDREN OF GOD
TO START PUTTING OUR FAITH INTO PRACTICE.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT ALL OF
THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT PAUL GIVES US
IN THIS SHORT SECTION FROM HIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT ROME
AND REALIZE THAT WE HAVE
WORK TO DO. THAT THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES ALL AROUND US
TO SHOW OUR FAITH; TO SHOW THAT OUR LOVE IS
SINCERE. TO STOP HATING OTHER PEOPLE.
TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND
TREAT THEM WITH KINDNESS AND LOVE. TO NOT BE CONCEITED.
TO BE ABLE AND WILLING TO TALK
AND ASSOCIATE WITH ANY PERSON.
NO MATTER OF THE COLOR
OF THEIR SKIN. NO MATTER OF THE LANGUAGE THAT COMES OUT OF
THEIR MOUTH. NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PAYCHECK IS,
NO MATTER WHAT DISTRICT THEY LIVE IN.
BUT TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE.
AS CHRISTIANS, NOW IS THE TIME FOR US
TO BE THE ONES SHOWING THAT EXAMPLE.
AND TO NOT LOSE OUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR.
TO HAVE THAT DESIRE TO DO WHAT GOD
WANTS US TO DO. I KNOW WE ALL
HAVE PLANS FOR OUR LIFE. SOME OF US EVEN HAVE BUCKET LISTS.
MY NIECE, WHO IS IN HER EARLY 30'S, HAS A BUCKET LIST.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
SHE DOES THE THINGS ON THAT LIST. AS SIMPLE AS THEY
MIGHT BE: TRYING TO BAKE BREAD FROM YEAST.
BUT IT'S A GOAL, AND SHE MEETS
THAT GOAL. WHAT ABOUT THE GOALS OF OUR LIFE OF FAITH?
DO WE EVEN HAVE ANY? DO WE WANT TO
GROW IN FAITH? DO WE WANT TO GROW
IN UNDERSTANDING? DO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW
OUR FAITH? DO WE WANT TO TREAT OUR ENEMIES WITH LOVE?
BECAUSE IF THEY'RE HUNGRY, WE SHOULD BE
FEEDING THEM. IF THEY'RE THIRSTY,
WE SHOULD BE GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO DRINK
TO SHOW THEM THE LOVE OF GOD. BUT HOW OFTEN
AREN'T WE LIKE WHAT MOSES WARNED GOD'S PEOPLE
ABOUT IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT?
THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO GO INTO A LAND OF PLENTY.
A LAND THAT WAS OVERFLOWING WITH BLESSINGS.
AND GOD KNOWS THE HUMAN HEART.
BECAUSE HE SAID TO THEM: WHEN YOU ARE OUT
HARVESTING IN YOUR GARDEN, AND IN YOUR FIELD,
AND YOU DROP A SHEAF OF WHEAT, DON'T GO BACK
AND PICK IT UP. WHEN YOU BEAT
THE OLIVES OUT OF THE TREE, DON'T GO BACK AND BEAT IT
AGAIN. WHEN YOU GO THROUGH AND HARVEST YOUR GRAPES,
DON'T GO BACK AND HARVEST THEM AGAIN.
BUT HUMAN NATURE SAYS WE HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING. WE
HAVE TO GET EVERY LAST OLIVE. WE WANT EVERY LAST
GRAPE PICKED FOR US, USED FOR US.
WE WANT EVERY SINGLE KERNAL OF WHEAT
TO BE OURS AND TO BE MINE AND TO BE IN MY BARN
SO THAT I KNOW THAT I AM GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
THAT'S OUR HUMAN NATURE.
THAT'S WHY GOD HAS TO COME TO US AND SAY:
THINK ABOUT OTHER
PEOPLE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE
WHAT WE HAVE.
AND IF WE'RE GONNA CONSUME OUR LIFE
WITH JUST GETTING AND GETTING
AND KEEPING, WE ARE NOT SHOWING GOD'S LOVE.
WE ARE TO REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE
TO GIVE THEM THINGS THAT ARE OURS, THAT ARE BLESSINGS
OF OURS. AND IN OUR SHORT
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON, MOSES REMINDED GOD'S PEOPLE
WHY THEY WERE TO DO THAT.
BECAUSE THEY WERE SLAVES IN EGYPT.
AND GOD FREED THEM.
GOD
BROUGHT THEM TO THAT LAND.
GOD GAVE THEM THAT LAND.
GOD GAVE THEM THOSE OLIVES AND THOSE
GRAPES AND THAT WHEAT. AND GOD SAID:
LEAVE SOME FOR OTHERS.
AND OUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR COMES FROM THE FACT
THAT GOD HAS RELEASED US
FROM SIN. WE COULDN'T GET OUT
OF THAT SLAVERY. WE COULDN'T ESCAPE ITS BONDS.
WE COULDN'T ESCAPE DEATH AND WE COULDN'T
ESCAPE THE FLAMES OF HELL. BUT GOD CAME
AND FREED US. HE SENT US
JESUS CHRIST TO PUT SATAN
IN HIS PLACE AND TO OPEN UP THE
DOORS OF HEAVEN FOR US. TO CARRY US THROUGH
TO OUR HEAVENLY HOME FREEING US FROM
THE SHACKLES OF HELL. THAT IS WHAT GOD
DID FOR US AND WE ARE BLESSED.
BLESSED SPIRITUALLY. AND BLESSED
PHYSICALLY WITH THE THINGS THAT GOD ALLOWS US
TO HAVE FOR OUR DAILY NEEDS.
TO HELP OTHERS. TO
LOOK AT OTHERS WITH PITY
AND WITH COMPASSION AND LOVE.
INSTEAD OF HATE AND DESPISING THEM
AND DISDAIN.
TO START LIVING A LIFE
OF CHRISTIAN LOVE THAT OPENS OURSELVES UP
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE THINGS
THAT THEY NEED. THAT WE CAN DO THAT WITH
BECAUSE OF GOD'S BLESSINGS TO US.
TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE
OUR FAITH. AND TO REMIND OURSELVES
OF WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE
A REDEEMED CHILD OF GOD.
SAVED BY JESUS CHRIST. CARED FOR
AND BLESSED BY HIM.
TO BLESS EACH OTHER. TO BLESS OTHER PEOPLE.
AND TO BE REMINDED THAT AS THE BODY OF CHRIST
WE ARE UNITED IN BROTHERLY LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER. THAT THERE ISN'T
CONCEIT AMONG US. THAT NONE OF US
IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN ANYONE ELSE. BUT THAT WE
TREAT EACH OTHER EQUALLY. WITH THE SAME LOVE
AND THE SAME RESPECT
IRREGARDLESS OF WHO STANDS BEFORE US.
TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
WERE ALL SINNERS
CONDEMNED TO HELL AND WE ARE ALL NOW
CHILDREN OF GOD ON OUR WAY TO
OUR ETERNAL HOME.
LIVING IN FAITH. LOVING EACH OTHER.
ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER.
OPENING OUR HEARTS AND OUR LIVES AND LETTING
EACH OTHER BE A PART OF THAT.
TO REJOICE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN
ONE OF US REJOICES. IN WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
NOT BEING JEALOUS THAT SOMEONE GOT A PROMOTION
THAT WE DIDN'T. OR FOUND A HOUSE
THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD. NOT BEING JEALOUS OF WHAT SOMEONE
ELSE DOES IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF THE SITUATIONS
THAT THEY FIND THEM IN WITH THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS
GIVEN TO THEM. BUT BEING TRULY HAPPY
THAT GOD ALLOWS THEM THESE
SPECIAL THINGS IN THEIR LIFE.
TO REJOICE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN WE'RE HAPPY
MEANS THAT WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND WE ARE UNITED WITH
EACH OTHER. AND, YES, THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT WE
MOURN WITH EACH OTHER. THAT WE
SIT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST A LOVED ONE
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT PAIN.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT LONELINESS. BUT WE ALSO
COMFORT THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD.
WE COME TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK AND IN NEED
AND OFFER THEM OURSELVES
TO HELP THEM. TO LET THEM KNOW
THAT THERE IS SOMEONE PRAYING FOR THEM. LET THEM KNOW
THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.
TO BE UNITED TOGETHER AS THE FAMILY OF GOD.
INSTEAD OF A BUNCH OF BICKERING PEOPLE
WHO ARE ONLY OUT FOR THEIR SELFISH MOTIVES.
THAT IT'S ONLY ALL ABOUT ME AND
HOW COME NOBODY REJOICES WITH ME?
HOW COME NO ONE MOURNS WITH ME?
HOW COME NOBODY DOES FOR ME?
BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE,
THAT I DON'T DO FOR ANYTHING ELSE ...
OR ANYONE ELSE.
BECAUSE MY LOVE IS NOT UP TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
MY LOVE IS NOT FOCUSED ON CHRIST.
AND PUTTING THAT OUT THERE FIRST AND FOREMOST
PAUL REMINDS US TO LIVE.
TO LIVE OUR LIFE
OF FAITH.
TO NOT SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR SOME TIME.
BUT TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES
TO SEE THAT PERSON WHO IS IN NEED.
AND NOT BE LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THE PARABLE THAT
JESUS TAUGHT WHO WALKED PAST WITHOUT EVEN CARING.
WHO WENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
BUT TO BE THE PERSON WHO HAS COMPASSION.
AND GIVE SOMETHING TO HELP.
AND REMEMBER THE MAN WHO WANTED THAT
JUSTIFICATION FOR HIS LIFE.
JESUS TOLD HIM THAT PARABLE
TO REMIND HIM THAT WE AREN'T
ALWAYS PERFECT.
EVEN AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD,
WE CLOSE OUR EYES TO PEOPLE IN NEED.
WE AVOID THEM.
CUZ WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THEM.
WE TAKE THAT SIN
TO THE ONE WHO FORGIVES US AND
LEAVE IT THERE. AND THEN WE COME BACK
TO LIVE. TO LIVE
IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. TO LIVE IN THE FAITH
THAT IS OURS.
TO LIVE OUR LIFE WHILE GOD HAS ALLOWED US
TO BREATHE AND BE ACTIVE IN THIS WORLD.
IT IS TRULY A BLESSING. AND IT'S
A REMINDER TO US TO PUT THAT FAITH INTO PRACTICE.
TO DO IT TODAY.
TO NOT WAIT.
THERE'S A SONG IN ANOTHER MUSICAL,
IT'S HARDLY A SONG, IT'S A STATEMENT THAT SAYS ...
LIFE IS A BANQUET. AND I PARAPHRASE: MOST POOR PEOPLE
ARE STARVING TO DEATH.
KIND OF LIKE OUR FAITH, TOO.
OUR LIFE OF FAITH IS A BANQUET.
IT IS FILLED WITH POSSIBILITIES. IT IS FILLED
WITH OPPORTUNITIES. AND SOMETIMES
WE'RE STARVING BECAUSE WE DON'T
GET UP TO EAT. WE DON'T LOOK
AT THOSE BLESSINGS AND SAY: THAT IS GOOD!
THAT'S WHAT I WANT!
THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO!
TODAY WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED
AND TODAY WE ARE ENCOURAGED
TO LIVE! TO LIVE OUR LIFE OF FAITH.
TO BE FILLED WITH THE FERVOR THAT COMES
FROM KNOWING THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD
TO BE UNITED TOGETHER IN LOVE
TO DO THAT WORK. TO GET UP
AND TO LIVE. AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND
ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS
AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH
UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.